Index Archive

02 February 2018

BJP Government to setup mobile tracking system will it be linked to Aadhaar Number The BJP government has proposed to allocate Rs 15 crore for setting up a mobile phone tracking system in the country

What is the purpose of setting up mobile tracking system?Union Budget document 2018-19 said that this will bring down the number of counterfeit handsets and discourage theft

The system Central Equipment's Identity Register (CEIR) to be set up under Department of Telecom (DoT), will block all services on stolen or lost mobile phones on any network even if the SIM card is removed or IMEI number of the handset is changed.

BSNL has been entrusted with the task of setting up CEIR at its Pune centre.

The system will aim to bring down the number of counterfeit mobile phones and discourage theft.

CEIR will be regularly updated with IMEI of lost, stolen or counterfeit handsets.

CEIR is also expected to facilitate law enforcement authorities for lawful interception.

CEIR will connect the IMEI database of all mobile operators. It will act as a central system for all network operators to share blacklisted mobile terminals so that devices placed under the said category in one network will not work on the other, even if the SIM card in the device is changed, it said.

IMEI number - a unique 15-digit serial number of mobile devices - is allocated by global industry body GSMA and bodies authorized by it.

When a mobile phone is lost, the victim is required to mention the IMEI number of the handset for tracking.

The DoT has barred telecom operators from providing service to any mobile phone with fake IMEI number but the operators face problem in identifying handsets with duplicate IMEI number.

CEIR will also help operators in identifying handsets with fake IMEI numbers as it will have details of handset model to whom the IMEI has been originally allocated.

The DoT is also set to notify rules that will make tampering of IMEI number a punishable offence with up to three years of imprisonment.

After reading media reports still it is not clear CEIR will get the Aadhaar details of 100% mobile users

If CEIR gets Aadhaar Number details of each and every consumer it will become very easy to monitor each and every individual citizen of India 24/7 forever.

As tracking will happen with the IMEI number of a mobile phone.

Still is not clear if any employee of CEIR misuses the authority of tracking a mobile number how government is planning to deal with it, and a mobile subscribe will he or she get any damages like Rs. 10 Crore or Rs. 1 Crore for the loss of privacy.